Changeable indicator.



J. HUTGHINSON.

GHANGEABLE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

1,@6?32%& Patented July 15, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHBET 1 J. HUTGHINSON.

'GHANGEABLE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

Patented July 15, 1913.

5 SHBETSSHEET 2.

gw lflozucu J. HUTGHINSON.

GHANGEABLE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

1,067,248. Patented July 15, 1913.

' SSHEETS-SHBET a. ig- 6. 7 F y. 8

" &. l 5

wm case.

J. HUTCHINSON.

CHANGEABLE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.23, 1909.

Patented July 15, 1913.

5SHEETS-SHEBT 41 J. HUTUHINSON.

GHANGBABLE INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 23 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Patented July 15, 1913.

s a; ELLE.

E. Ali

mar "ran an in.

JOB HUTCHINSON, OF BENSONH'UEST, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL INDICATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

cnnn'enannn rnnrca'ron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jon Horcnnqson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bensonhurst, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Changeable lndicaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to changeable indicaters, for use principally in railway depots and stations to indicate the time of departure, the destination and the stops of trains. The apparatus at present in use for this purpose consists of a frame, one of which is provided for each track in the depot or station, in which may be inserted printed cards showing the name, destination and the stations at which the train is to stop. Some form of time indicator is also provided to show the time of departure of the train. There must be a card for each train, and any change in the number .of stops or in the train necessitates the printing of new cards. An other arrangement consists of a rack, and removable loars each bearing a station name and adapted to be placed in the rack in the order of the stops to be made by the train.

T he principal objects of my invention are to provide an apparatus in which a large number of stat-ions are provided for, and rapidand convenient means for changing the display of the station names to change from one train schedule to another.-

A further object is to provide selector means which will control the change of the station names.

Further objects are to provide for the ready change of the train name; for the change of the time of departure indication, and generally to provide a self-contained and practical schedule particularly adapted for large depots in which a large number of trains depart from the various tracks.

In carrying my invention into effect, 1 construct a frame preferably adapted to show the'schedule in duplicate the duplicate parts being at an angle to each other so as to be seen from different directions. The names of all the trains which are to leave from the given track are arranged in duplicate upon a movable curtain, and means are provided for operating this curtain. Special time indicating mechanism operable from the front of the frame is provided. The station names are arranged on rotatable horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. t is a similar view taken on the line l4, F ig, 2; Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a rear view of one of the panels of the indicater; Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the same taken on line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a central vertical section of the same taken on line 88 of'Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view in perspective showing a pair of indicating blocks, one of the blocks being in section to show the mounting upon its shaft; Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in horizontal section through the circuit controlling device; Fig. 11 is a rear view of a portion of the frame showing another form of mecha nisin for controlling the time indication, the station blocks being omitted to avoid complication of the drawing; Fig. 12 is a side view of the same; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the same, showing also another arrangement for controlling the station bloclts; Fig. let is an enlarged detail showing the time rollsof Figs. 11 12, and 13., one of the rolls being shown in section; Fig. 15 is an enlarged vertical section of the station block controlling arrangement shown in Fig. 13, the door being closed; Fig. 16 is a similar horizontal section, the door being shown partly open; Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view of a schedule card; Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail partly in cross-section showing a gear connection of one of the apron reels; Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail of a modification showing electric motors employed to drive said reels; Fig. 20 is a diagrammatic view of the controlling circuit connections for the solenoids of the indicating blocks; and Fig. 21 is a detail of a modification for controlling the circuits of said indicating blocks.

Referring now to the drawings, the indicator is shown as consisting of two pane s A. and B which are arranged at an an; a

to each other so as to be seen from difierent no directions, and are duplicates of each other. At the meeting of the two panels in front is a vertical connecting block C upon which part of the controlling mechanism is ar- 5 ranged. Above the frame is provlded apermanent number, in a frame D, to indicate the track which the indicator represents.

As the panels A and B are duplicates, a de--- scription of one will suffice for both. The 1 upper space E and the space F next below it are for the indication of the name of the railway and the name of the train for which the schedule is to be set, these two indicia being placed upon a single movable web 1 to be hereinafter fully described, The space G is intended for the permanent legend train leaves, and below this is 'arran ed an opening H for the indication of the time of departure of the train,the figures of which time indication are arranged, upon four movable strips 2 to be fully described later on. l 1, represents the principal indicating por tion of the panel comprising a series of rotatable blocks arranged in pairs across the panel, three faces of each block being provided with indicia indicating stations along the route of the railway, and the fourth face being left blank.

39 The web 1, carrying the indication of the road and the name of the train, is a long strip wound upon reels 3 and 4 and having its ends attached to each reel respectively. Between the reels the web passes over idlers 5 5, 6, 7, and 8, so as to cause it to lie flat within the two panels A and B, the indicia for which it is intended being printed or otherwise produced in duplicate so as to show the same indication upon each panel 0 simultaneously. Reels 3 and 4 are each mounted upon vertical shafts 9 and 10, respectively, each of which is driven through shaft 11, beveled gears 12, and shaft 13, the latter of which is operated by a crank or other suitable device 14 upon the front of theframe. Oppositely arranged ratchet mechanism 15 is provided for each "ertical shaft whereby when the operating handle 1-1 is turned in one direction one of the vertical 5 shafts will be rotated to wind up web 1 upon one of the reels, and when turned in the opposite direction the other shaft will be turned to wind said web upon the other spool, when each shaft is operated the other being permitted to feed freely at different ratios, according to the change in the size of the reeled up portion of the web. A detail of this construction is shown in Fig. 18, where it will be seen that the bevel o pinion 12 works loosely upon shaft 9 and turns the latter by means of pawl 16 of the ratchet mounted upon disk 17 secured" to the shaft.

- The mechanism for indicating the time of departure of the trains consists of movable strips or webs 2 mounted upon spring drums v18 secured upon brackets 19 on the inner side of the panel. The drums 18 are arranged side by side and each strip passes first over idlers 19 upon the face of the panel and then'rearwardly over idler-20 and down behind the panel, to the end of each strip being attached a cord 21 passing over idlers 22 andup the face of the board and attached to a clip 23 sliding upon a rod 24. The clips 23 may be of any preferred construction, but preferably spring clips so that when adjusted upon the rods after vertical movement thereon they will remain in the adjusted position, and the desired number upon the corresponding strip will appear in space H upon the front of the panel.

The mechanism for moving indicating blocks I, and for selectively determining the blocks to be moved, will now be described. As has already been said, these blocks I are mounted in pairs upon spindles 25- pivoted in the-panels, so that there will appear from the front of the frame upon each panel two vertical columns of stations. Each shaft is provided with a pinion 26 meshing with a vertical rack 27'slidably mounted in brackets upon the rear face of the panel. Each rack is connected by an. arm 28 with a handle 29 projecting through a slotin 5 the face of the frame, by which handle both of the racks 27, one upon each panel of the frame, may be moved up or" down, and pinions 26 be thereby rotated.

Each block I is mounted upon spindle 25 o by means of a split tube 30, this tube being formed within each block and making frictional engagement with the spindle. Ad-' jacent each block I is arranged a controlling pin 31 held in contact with the block in any suitable manner, as by means of a coil spring 32. Each pin has a flat-faced foot, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 8, which may be in the form of a disk and which bears against the inner face of its block so that the blocks are held in exact alinement and present an even appearance from the front of the indicator. Pins 31 are arranged in banks upon a frame 33 and are each controlled by an electro-magnet 34:. When an electro-magnet is energized, therefore, its holding pin which constitutes the armature of said electro-magnet, or is connected with the armature thereof, is retracted so as to release the block.

'In order to selectively determine which indicating blocks are to be released, I provide an electric circuit controller comprising a face plate 35 of conducting material arranged upon the front of the frame and provided with two rows of perforations, the number of said perforations corresponding to the number of electromagnets upon each panel of the frame.- The plugs 36 are'provided to fit these perforations and connect mamas the plate 35 with binding posts 37. Each binding post (shown in detail in Fig. 10) is in electrical connection with a contact finger 38 having a spring pressed ball or other suitable contact 39 adapted to make contact with the face plate 35. A controlling strip or band 40 is mounted upon reels 41 and provided with perforations 42, which are arranged in sections to represent difien' ent schedules, through Which latter the contact balls 39 engage and complete the circuit through plate 35.

In Fig. 20, which'shows the diagram of the circuit connect-ions, it will be seen that the posts 37 and 38, arranged in pairs, are connected to corresponding solenoids or electro-magnets 34, the magnets or solenoids being connected to one side of a sup ply circuit and the plate 35, constituting a common return being connected to the other side of said circuit. The wiring of only a few solenoids is shown as illustrative of the remainder.

The operation of the indicator as thus far described is as follows: The movable web 1 is adjusted to show the proper indication of the railroad and the name of the train for the next departure, by means of handle 14 the rotation of which winds said web upon either spool 3 or 4 according to the location of the printed indication for the desired train. Clips 23 are adjusted upon their respective rods so as to bring the proper time numerals upon strips 2 opposite opening H, to indicate. the time of departure. Gontrolling strip 40 is then moved so as to bring 'the proper schedule perforations beneath plate 35 so that the contact balls 39 of the proper contact fingers will engage and make electrical contact with plate 35 to complete the circuit of the proper solenoids of the blocks'I which it is desired to release and rotate. Handle 29 is then manipulated so as to rotate the released blocks through the operation of rack 27 and pinions 26, the frictional engagement of the blocks remaining stationary with their respective spindles, permitting said spindles to rotate without moving these blocks. The proper indicia of the various stations of the train=are thus.

put into view upon the face of the panels, and when the train is designed to pass certain stations without stopping, the blocks representing these stations are arranged to display their blank face.

If, for any reason, it is undesirable to make use of the pattern strip 40 for arranging the train schedule, the circuit connections of the proper solenoid may be made by means of plugs 36.

Instead of operating vertical shafts 9 and 10 manually by means of handle 14, I may provide electric motors M, M (Fig. 19) for this purpose, the armature of each motor being mounted directly or otherwise uponv one of the shafts and the motor being wired to rotate the armature in the proper direction, the circuit connections m, m leading to a double throw switch S for bringing each motor into operation, this switch being preferably located upon the front of the frame.

Instead of mounting the time indicating drums 18 horizontally, they may be arranged verticallv as shown at 18', Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14. The spring of drum 18 is shown at 18 and is attached to the drum and its pintle. Each time web or strip 2 passes from its drum around rollers 19 on the face of'the panel and is wound upon a reel 18 operated by a handle 23', on the front of the panel, through bevel gears 23 and shaft 23. Each shaft 23 is acted on by a friction brake 23 the tension of which is adjusted by nuts 23", so as to maintain reels 18 in the position to which they are moved.

Instead of controlling station indicating blocks I by a long schedule strip, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10, I, preferably employ schedule cards such asrshown in Figs. 13, 15, 16 and 17. Here it will be seen that the contact plate 35 is hinged at 35 and carries guides 35 into which the card 40 is slipped. Contact plate 35' cooperates with spring-pressed contacts 38, and auxiliary contacts 37', perforations, and plugs 36, are provided having similar functions to the same parts shown in Fig.

10. A latch 35 is provided to hold plate mo 35 closed. Each schedule card 40, which is preferably made of fiber, is provided with a perforation 42 corresponding to each of spring-pressed contacts 38, and fits into guides 35. A movable flap 36 is provided for each perforation, so that the cards are all standard and the schedule is arranged by adjusting the flaps. @therwise, the operation is the same as the arrangement previously described.

Instead of employing electrical means for selectively determining the release of the indicating blocks I, I may provide a mechanical arrangement such as shown in Fig. 21, in which a lever i is pivoted at z" and provided with a shoe i engaging one of the blocks, and a rearward projection i which is engaged by a projection. i of a second lever i pivoted at z'. Lever i has a forward extension i adapted to extend through a perforation in strip 2', these perforations being arranged in accordance with a schedule as in the electrical arrangements hereinbefore described. Alternating with levers i are levers 2' each having a foot i" engaging a block I and a forward extension 2' similar to extension 2' Suitable springs s,

s are provided to operate'said levers and press shoes 2' Z", in contact with their respective blocks when permitted by the enme trance of extensions Z and i into the perforations of strip 2', for the blocks which it is desired to hold stationary.

Although I have described my indicator as especially designed and arranged for a train schedule, it is obvious that 1t may be employed for other purposes by supplying the proper indicia,and that while the parts of my construction constitute an organized train schedule indicator, various parts may be employed alone for different purposes or in combination with other elements heretofore known or hereafter to be devised. Also,

' While I have described specific apparatus, 1

' for simultaneously operating a predetermined number of said contacts to effect a corresponding number of electro-magnets,.

' and an additional circiut controlling means for singly controlling said electro-magnets.

2. A changeable indicator comprising a plurality of movable normally stationary devices for indicating intelligences, a plurality of electrical controlling devices, electric circuits for the same, circuit controlling means for simultaneously energizinga predetermined number of said controlling devices through said circuits, independent cirs cuit controlling means whereby said electrical controlling devices may be singly ener gized at will, and means for moving said normally stationary indicating devices.

3. In a changeable indicator, the combination with a plurality of rotatable shafts, of blocks having indicia on faces thereof, a split sleeve mounting for said blocks upon a spring said shafts, common means for rotating said shafts, means for holding said blocks stationary, and selective meansvfor releasing predetermined individual blocks.

4. In a changeable indicator, the combination with a plurality of rotatable blocks having indicia on faces thereof, of means for rotating said blocks, means for holding I said blocks stationary, electro-magnets for releasing said holdin means, a spring pressed contact in the circuit of each of said electro-magnets, a common return contact plate cooperating with said spring contacts, a pattern strip provided with perforations to permit the closure of the circuit of predetermined electro-magnets through their respective spring contacts andsaid contact plate, an auxiliary contact connected with each of said spring pressed contacts, and independent means for electrically connecting said auxiliary contacts with said contact plate.

5. In a changeable indicator, the combination with a plurality of associated indicating means, electro-magnets for control movement of said indicating means, pressed contact in the circuit of each of said electro-magnets, a hinged common return contact plate'cooperating with said contacts, a pattern strip provided with perforations corresponding to said spring pressed contacts, a movable closure for each of said perforations, and means for holding ling the said pattern strip upon said hinged contact "plate.

6. A pattern card or stripfor controlling contacts, comprising perforations and a movable closure for each of a number of said perforations.

7. A pattern card or strip for controlling contacts, comprising perforations and a movable closure for each of said perforations.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses..

JOB HUTCHINSON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM BAYREUTHER, MILDRED L. HUTCHINSON. 

